If you've been accused of violating the law, a seasoned criminal attorney can help you fight the charges. Along the way, your legal team will devise strategies for strengthening your defense. Regardless of the circumstances, you can be sure that one such strategy will be staying off of social media. Consider the guide below to learn how social media use can affect your criminal case.

How Social Media Can Affect Criminal Cases 

Generally speaking, social media posts that are obtained legally are an admissible form of evidence in a court of law. You may not be worried if you didn't confess to the crime outright online, but the prosecutor may be able to gather circumstantial evidence of your guilt. For example, if you were charged with DUI, photographs of you socializing at a bar or club just before the arrest could be used to prove your guilt. Images, text posts, and videos that you publish after the fact could also be used against you, especially if they call into question the content of your character. 

What to Do With Social Media If You're Accused of a Crime 

Criminal attorneys generally advise their clients to deactivate all of their social media accounts for as long as their case is pending. You should not delete your profiles entirely, however, as doing so could be considered tampering with evidence. This includes blocking or deleting other people that are involved in the case. You should remain inactive but leave the profiles untouched.

If you cannot deactivate one or more profiles for personal or professional reasons, update their privacy settings so that only approved connections can view them. While this will provide an added layer of protection, though, there is no foolproof way to contain something once you publish it online. As such, you should avoid posting about the crime, the case, or your social life even after updating your privacy settings. You should also ask your friends and followers to avoid tagging you or posting about your situation, as this could adversely affect your case. 

If you're facing charges in Ohio, turn to Michael A. Newland Esquire in Hamilton. Since 1989, this strategic criminal attorney has been challenging aggressive prosecutors on behalf of his clients. A well-rounded professional, he also assists with juvenile  law matters, will preparation, and expungements. To learn more about his approach to the law, visit his website. To request a consultation with this resourceful criminal attorney, call (513) 887-9595.